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@ai Letters PatentvNo. 72,448, dated December 24, 1867.

IMPROVBD SKATE.

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TO ALL vWHOM IT MAY CONCERN: n

Be it known that I, Grnonen BROWNLEE, of Irinceton, in the county of Gibson, and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Skates; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable othersskilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, formingpart of tlis specification.

The present invention consists, first, in transversely dividing the foot-rest or support to`the skate at a point between its toe and heel, and where the ball ofthe foot will rest upon the same, into two parts or sections, that are hinged together, in combination with the runner or blade, also similarly divided, formed at their joint, that as they are op`ened,'as it were, by the action ofthe pressure by the foot upon the support or rest of the sk'ate, the runner will present an unbroken and continuous surf-ace or edge to the ic'e or other ground in which the skate is used; second, in arranging upon the under side of the foot-rest or supporta driving-jaw or claw, or claws, in such manner that by the movement ot' the foot-rest or support, inthe act of skating, such claws will operate upon the ice or other surface in a manner to propel or to assist the skater forward; the arrangement of the jaws being such as to be susceptible of adjustment at pleasure, and as may be found necessary; third, in securing to the side ofthe runner-blade to a skate, and along its length, a parallel edge, by means of which the direction of the skater is turned, as he leans over upon the side corresponding with such edge. In the accompanying plate of drawings my improvements in skates are illustrated- Figure l'being a plan view of the under side to the foot-rest or support of a skate, constructed and provided according thereto. I

Figure 2,' a longitudinal vertical section, taken in the plane of the line x a', iig.V 1, and i Figure 3, a transverse vertical section, taken in the plane of the line yly, iig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. Y

A, in the drawings, represents the support or foot-rest to a skate, divided transversely at a point at ornear the inner end with the ball of the foot, into two parts or sections, B Aand C, that are connected together by a hinge-joint, D; E, the runner-blade to the skate, made in two parts or sections F and G, that are fixed to the under` side of the foot-rest, so as to form a continuous blade; the two parts to the runner, where meeting, being made of e circular shape, as shownat H, so that, as the two parts to the foot-rest arc brought to a greater or less angular direction with regard to each other, the runner will present anunbroken edge to the ice or other surface. I I2, two jaws or claws, arranged upon the under side of the foot-rest, to the skate, one upon each side of the blade or runner. One, I, of these clawsis simply Secured to the foot-rest by screwing it into a screw-nut, suitably located on the under part to the rest, from which it passes forward through a guide-loop, K, fixed in the rest, and by its serrated end, L, at the toe end to the runner, brought to a bearing upon the ice or other surface, and thus, bythe motion of the two parts to the skate, by the action of the pressure from the foot thereon, made to propeL-or at least to assist in propelling, the skater forward. vThe other jaw or claw is hung' at one end to the side ofthe runner-blade at its heel-end, `and is adjusted to rest, either more or less, uponthe ice or other surfaceat its serrated end, L, by means of 'a screw-rod, M, moved by turning a screw-nut, N, and thus, as the said jaw is suspended to it, allow such jaw to rest in a greater or less degree uponthe ice or other ground; this jaw I2 acting to propel, or at least to assist in propelling, the skater. forward, in a similar manner to that described for the jaw I. O, an edge or strip secured to runner-blade along one side and for the greater portion of its length, which strip is lprovided to assist the skater to turn-byleaning over upon such side, it being only intended to use said strip when the edge of the skate isrounded o'.

With skates constructed according to my improvements, the skater is allowed greater freedom in the use of his feet, and they do not become cold and numb as quick as with the ordinary skates.

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The foot-rest or support, and runner or blade, of a'skate, when transversely divided, substantially as and for the purpose described. v v

2. A foot-rest or support to the skate, when provided with a. driving-jaw or jaws, substantially :is-described, for the purpose specified.

3. The edge or strip applied to the runner'or blade of a skate, substantially as and for the purpose described.

The above specification of my invention signed by me, this-the eighth day of October, 1867.

. GEO) BROWNLEE.

j Witnesses:

O. M. WELBORN,

t i, I v Gnus. Baownn'nn. 

